Closure Remains in Effect for Grand Lake Area After Bacteria Found

Officials announced that an area of Grand Lake will remain closed through Friday after tests continued to show high levels of E. coli in the water.

Crews were sent back out to the Bernice State Park Wednesday morning to take new samples of the water that initially turned up unsafe levels of E. coli and Enterococci. The park is located east of Tulsa in Delaware County.

"Public safety is our top priority." Grand River Dam Authority spokesperson Justin Alberty said. In their latest round of tests, water samples remained at high levels for the bacteria, but only in the one location.

Officials with the GRDA stated that samples of the water showed levels of bacteria exceeded the Oklahoma Water Resources Board standards for bodily contact with water. Together with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department the area was shutdown for the next 48 hours.

A cause has not yet been determined, but an investigating will continue this week. Area residents are warned to avoid the area if possible and to not come in contact with any water.